First Post, going to Eminence area tomorrow, 9 20

[DirtyOldMan]

Hello all,
Stumbled across this site over on adv rider, recognize some of the names from there.
I know it's short notice but if any of you are gonna be down in that area and see an old fat man on a red husky thrashing around it might be me.
I usually head for NW AR for a ride but I've had a hankering to explore a bit of my own state. I stole your gps map of your "Freeman ride" ya'll did back in the spring and hope to follow some of that. Not sure where I'll camp, maybe I'll call that Links riding resort place and see if they have an empty tent spot. Hopefully the weather will be dry enough in the late AM for me to get down there by dark.

anyhow greetings and hope to see some of you out on the trail.

[safiri]

Plenty of camping opportunities in CG's along the national rivers down there: Current, Jacks Fork, Eleven Point. NPS. Also in the NF.

There is a large fold out map (3'x3', $, not the NPS map) for the Current River (mainly for floaters) that shows all of the roads around / along the river. Might be a good resource. (I have used the map for canoe access points that aren't on the NPS map ... lots of minimum maintenance stuff. Also shows old historic sites along the river if that is of interest.)

[DirtyOldMan]

Thanks, I'll look for one of those maps. I used a similar one for the Buffalo River area in AR.

[troy]

DirtyOldMan, how was your Eminence adventure? Is your 13 Husky one of those new Terra 650's? If so, how do you like it?

[DirtyOldMan]

Oops, time got away from me, been meaning to stop back in to say thanks for the GPS route.
Had a great time down there, I was surprised to find this area more remote and unpopulated than my normal NW AR haunts.
I left Pleasant Hill about 11:00 am after letting the tail end of the rain get a head start on me. It paid off, didn't need any rain gear all weekend.
I have a little shortcut route from my place, 2 hwy to Leeton and then a couple of alphabet roads put me on 7 past Clinton.
Most of 7 has new pavement all the way down to I44 so it was smooth sailing, very little traffic on the way down and back.
I picked up some sandwiches at a cool little mom and pop deli in Ramondsville and headed for Akers Ferry.
I meant to cross the river at Akers but I took some wrong turns and wandered around some and wound up arriving at Akers Ferry from the same side of the River. (If that makes any sense).
I had scoped out Loggers Lake campground on the map and had planned on staying there Fri. night. Took a good many wrong turns getting there but finally made it right as it got dark. I had started seeing parts of the Freeman loop showing up on the gps as I looked for the campsite so I knew I was close. If I had known how close I was to Links place I could have just gone there. Turns out Loggers Lake is a really pretty little camp built by the CCC in the 30's. I had it all to myself till one other group got there.
Saturday morning was cool and crisp after the rain, gorgeous day for riding. Found my way to Links place (I had not called ahead) and a couple of guys who were just heading out for a ride told me he had left for the day. So, I stashed my gear on his porch, left a note on the door and headed out to follow the loop.
Headed south from his place riding a clockwise path around the loop. When I got to the beginning of the first alternate loop section I saw 2 separate M/C tire tracks in the gravel. As I continued on I kept seeing those same tracks and started pushing it a bit to see if I could catch up. Had just put new tires on the Husky TKC front and scout60 rear and they were working really well. Really transformed the bike.

Had a stroke of good fortune and caught the riders ahead of me. The 2 guys from Links had made a wrong turn and were backtracking. Travis from West Plains and Freddy from Columbia on KLRs invited me to tag along. I was really glad to ride with someone else, those alternate routes weren't really bad on the smaller bikes but they were a bit grown over and I would have probably second guessed my navigating if I had been alone.
My new friends were pressed for time so we split up after the first alternate part of the loop. I rode the rest by myself, was really tempted to take the other B option that takes off after Van Buren but decided to play it safe while I was alone.
Turns out the regular loop was plenty fun, I logged somewhere around 180 miles. Took the side trip to the old mill and Rocky Falls.
Got back to the resort and met Link and his wife, really great folks living on a little slice of heaven there. They built us a fire in the outdoor fireplace and we sat up late swapping stories. He told me several times "That Troy's a good guy, he built my website ya know."
Got up Sunday and did a little exploring to the North in the Natl. Forest area before heading home.

This was one of the best rides I've had in a good while. I've been meaning to explore down there for some time and was really surprised to find it so much more remote feeling than AR. It's a couple of hours closer to me as well with excellent road riding on the way down. Maybe I can get my dirt bike plated soon and can go on one of his single track tours.

Troy, yes the bike is a Husky 650 Terra. I bought it intending to replace my VStrom 1000 and my 640ADV. I was trying to reduce the stable of bikes to a more manageable number. I could not be happier with the bike, it's close to as capable off road as the 640 and eats up the hwy close to what the VStrom would do. Especially for the price, I would recommend it. They have probably been discontinued due to the sale of Husqvarna, lots of rumors, lots of opinions on what will continue to be produced, time will tell.
Most of the parts are BMW and enough of them have been sold to create a fair sized community of owners to share info.

Anyhow, thanks again for posting the GPS info and hope to see some of you out on the dusty trail.

[DirtyOldMan]

My camp at Loggers Lake





Ultimate lawn art



Old house foundation over by Sutton Bluff

[troy]

...I had scoped out Loggers Lake campground on the map and had planned on staying there Fri. night. Took a good many wrong turns getting there but finally made it right as it got dark. I had started seeing parts of the Freeman loop showing up on the gps as I looked for the campsite so I knew I was close. If I had known how close I was to Links place I could have just gone there. Turns out Loggers Lake is a really pretty little camp built by the CCC in the 30's. I had it all to myself till one other group got there...

Link took me to Loggers Lake last year so I could see the campground. It is BEAUTIFUL and very remote. I bet there are a lot of times a guy would have the place to himself.

http://www.visitmo.com/loggers-lake-campground.aspx
fs.usda.gov site

Mark "Big Dog" Sampson posted a ride report on AdvRider back in 2011 when he went spring hunting. Like you, he was flying solo (as he often does). He camped at Loggers Lake and posted a lot of great pics. (Mark also loves his Terra 650.)

...I don't think I've been camping even once this year.

I was impressed with Rocky Falls. They are worth seeing when in the area.

I'm glad you got to meet Link and see the Freeman Off-road Resort. (He is not married, btw. His very beloved wife passed away several years ago. He has a new lady friend. He told me she is pretty cool, and seemed happy to have her around.)